The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-01-13

eleVatlng 1t above human suffering
that martyrdom, though infdmously
aimed, came as a fitting crown to a
life consecrated from the cradle to
human liberty. Loud and prolonged
cheering.] Let US, each cherishing the
traditions and honoring his father,
build with reverent hands to the type
of his simple but sublime life, in which
all types are honored, and in our
common glory as Americans there
will be plenty and to spare for your
forefathers and for mine. IRenewed
! cheering.]
X
In speaking to the toast with which
you have honored me, l accept the
term, "The New South" as in no
sense disparaging to the old. Dear
to me, sir, is the home of my childhood
and the traditions of my people. l
would not, if l could, dim the glory
they won in peace and war, or by
word or deed take aught from the
splendor and grace oftheir civilization
never equalled and, perhaps, never
to be equalled in its chivalric strength
and grace. There is a new south, not
through protest against the old, but
because of new conditions, new adjust
ments and, if you please, new ideas
and aspirations. 1t is to this that l
address myself.
A CONTRAST WITH TALMAGE.
Then came the most dramatic part
of the speech. DR.. Talmage, who
spoke first, closed his speech with
dramatic picture of the review of
Sherman S army in Washington after
the war had closed. l quote his words,
that the full situation may be under
stood. DR.. Talmage said;
But of all the past, and Of all the
present, and Of all the future, nothing
will ever be witnessed equal to the
scene which blazed before my eyes the
first time l saw General Sherman. 1t
was the day when the armies came
back from the south and marched in
review before the president at Wash
ington. God knew that the day was
stupedous, and He cleared the heavens
of clouds and mist and chill, and
strung the blue sky as triumphal arch
for the returning warriors to pass
under From Arlington Heights the
spring foliage Shook out its welcome
as the hosts came over the hills, and
the sparkling waters of the Potomac
tossed their gold to greet the bat
talions as they came over the Long
Bridge in almost interminable lines.
The capitol never seemed SO majestic
as that morning, snowy white, looking
upon the tide of men that came
surging down, billow after billow,
passing in silence; yet l heard in
every step those conflicts through
which they had waded, and seemed to
see dripping from their smoky flags
the blood of our country's martyrs.
For the best part of two days we
stood and watched the filing on of the
same endless battalions; brigade after
brigade; division after division; host
after host, ever moving, ever passing:
marching, marching. Tramp, tramp,
tramp! Thousands after thousands.
Battery front! Arms shouldered
Columns solid Shoulder to shoulder!
Wheel to wheel Charger to charger!
Nostril to nostril. Commanders on
horses, with their reins entwined with
roses, their necks enchained with
garlands-hundreds of thousands of
heroes marching on Huzza! Huzza
Shall ever forget the day?
THE RETURNING CONFEDERATE.
Stupendous cheering greeted this
picture. As the cheering subsided,
General Sherman was introduced and
received with three times three and a
tiger. Referring to this episode, Mr..
Grady, after pause, in which he
seemed to be considering what he
should say, lifted his head and said:
"Dr. Talmage has drawn for you,
with masters hand the picture of
your returning armies. He has told
you how in the pomp and circumstance
of war, they CINE back to you, march
ing with proud and victorious tread,
reading their glory in ration's eyes!
viii you bear with me while ! tell you
Of another army that sought its home
at the close Of the late war-an army
that marched home IN defeat and not
in victory-in pathos and not in
splendor, but in glory that equaled
yours, and to hearts as loving as ever
welcomed heroes home. Let me pic
ture to you the footsore confederate
soldier. as buttoning up in his faded
gray jacket the parole which was to
bear testimony to hIs children of bis
fidelity and faith, turned bis face
southwark from Appomatox IN April,
1865. Think of him as ragged, hall
starved, heavy hearted, enfeebled by
want and wounds; having fought so
exhaustion, he surrenders his gun
wrings the hands of bis comrades il
silence, and lifting his tear-stained
and pallid face tor the last time to the
graves that dot the old Virginia hills
pulls his gray cap over his brow anc
begins the slow and painful journey
| What does he fnd-let me ask you
| who went to vor,r homec a,oar 70 6,3